Toastmasters group taking off here; another set for outdoors

Riverbend Toastmasters Club promotes the art of public speaking

Darrin Phegley / The Gleaner
Myk Pavlenko delivers his speech during the Riverbend Toastmasters speech contest during their meeting at the library Wednesday afternoon, January 30, 2013.

The Gleaner

Darrin Phegley / The Gleaner
Lynda Peters, center, illustrates her point of the power of words during her speech of the same name at the Toastmasters speech contest at the library Wednesday afternoon, January 30, 2013. In her presentation Peters used the dol as a blind person on the streets who was begging for money. Here she is demonstrating how another person used the power of words to aid the man in receiving more coins by changing the words of his sign from "I'm Blind Please Help" to "It's a beautiful day and I can't see it."

The Gleaner

Darrin Phegley / The Gleaner
Becky Durham, left, and other judges get briefed by chief judge John Michael O'Leary, right, before the Riverbend Toastmasters speech contest in the library's Multipurpose Room Wednesday afternoon, January 30, 2013.

The Gleaner

Words are powerful.

The ability to wield them effectively is a skill valued by the Riverbend Toastmasters Club.

Member Lynda Peters speech about the "Power of Words," in which she made effective use of a Santa doll standing in as a blind beggar, was met with a standing ovation at the club's meeting Wednesday.

Toastmasters seeks to heed her words by giving club members the opportunity to build communication skills and confidence to effectively express themselves in most any situation, said Riverbend member Myk Pavlenko. Participants learn to be persuasive and confident in making presentations while improving the one-on-one interactions with business and community interactions.

"It's a great networking tool and it's a great opportunity for people to get to know each other in the community," said Pavlenko.

Toastmasters is an international organization with more than 280,000 members in 116 countries. Riverbend Toastmasters Club is Henderson's first foray with the organization, though many of its 23 members are also part of the Crescent City Toastmasters Club in Evansville.

The local club's first meeting was Nov. 7. Only five weeks later, the club had enough members to be chartered.

Michelle Green of Henderson had visited the Crescent City Club in the past, but her schedule wouldn't allow her to join. Green was happy when the Henderson-based club formed and joined right away.

She admits to being petrified of getting in front of groups and speaking, though she works in large groups as an e-learning specialist for the Indiana Department of Education. The reason Green joined Toastmasters was to help overcome her nerves.

"It's more than just getting over standing in front of people," Green said. "It's learning what people receive from you and the feedback helping you get better. So that really was my motivation."

Toastmasters meeting are precise. Each item on the agenda is timed out to the minute, including evaluations. Members of Toastmasters critique each other's speeches and offer helpful feedback.

There are also, occasionally, contests where a few members square off against each other to see who advances to represent the club on a district, then potentially regional and international, level. Green and Peters earned the right last week to advance to the next level in the Evaluation and International Contests, respectively.

The Riverbend Toastmasters meet at noon every Wednesday in the community room at Henderson County Public Library.

Hendersonians unable to attend lunch time meetings will soon have the opportunity to join up for an evening hours club, said Pavlenko. He and Area Governor Michael Woodall are organizing the Riverside Park Toastmasters Club, which is scheduled to meet at 5:30 on Wednesdays in the library beginning March 20.

While the library has been reserved for the club, if the weather permits the Toastmasters will meet in Central or Audubon Mill parks. To Pavlenko's knowledge, it will be the only Toastmasters Club that meets out in the open air.

Membership fees are $36 per six months, plus a $20 one-time registration fee. Fees are waived for previous members.

"It's the best value you are going to get for the kind of personal development that you are going to encounter," said Pavlenko.